Million-dollar Bible launched
in Australian outback

n Above: A Walpiri boy examines the new Bible with two missionaries. Below: Representatives of the Yuendemu church with a copy of the Aboriginal pulpit Bible

SYDNEY, Australia — There was an audible gasp from the congregation as the pulpit Bible was unwrapped and they watched in silence as it was presented to the pastor of the church. At 430 x 300 x 100mm (17 x 12 x 4 inches) and weighing about 7kg (15lbs), this was the biggest Aboriginal Bible ever seen.

It was Sunday October 14 and the occasion was the dedication of the Warlpiri Bible. It took place in the church at Lajamanu, an Aboriginal community situated in the outback of Australia’s Northern Territory, about half way between Alice Springs and Darwin – that is, about 600kms (375 miles) from each. Some 200 people crowded into the little church, many standing along the walls, and others standing outside.

33 years’ work

The 1,513-page Bible, containing the whole New Testament and eight books of the Old Testament, represents 33 years’ collaborative work between the Bible Society in Australia (BSA), Wycliffe Bible Translators and the local Aboriginal community.

“We are hungry for this Word,” said one Warlpiri woman as she held her own copy of the new Bible. And the preacher, local Aboriginal pastor Jerry Jangala, reminded the congregation that “when we don’t read the Bible right we put God behind us.” He illustrated his message with a large painted iconograph which was hanging on the front wall of the church.

Aboriginal idiom

The painting, done in typical Aboriginal style, depicted Jesus forming the church on the open Bible but also showed the many worldly distractions which draw people away from Christ. The Warlpiri Bible itself contains many similar iconographs, some in full colour. These pictures speak to the hearts of the Warlpiri people of Christ’s love more strongly than Western illustrations or photographs can because they are in the Aboriginal illustrative idiom.

The BSA printed 400 copies of the Warlpiri Bible. This is likely to meet the needs of the 3,000 Warlpiri speakers for the next five to 10 years. It is estimated that the total cost of the project over its 33 years was about US$1 million. Each copy, therefore, cost about US$2,500.

The printing of the large pulpit Bibles was a new idea for the Bible Society and the Aboriginal churches of Australia. Four were printed and magnificently bound, one for each of the Warlpiri communities – Lajamanu, Yuendemu, Willowra and Ali Curing.

“We pray that they will be a visible focus for the Christians in the Warlpiri communities,” said Dr Carl Gross, Translation Consultant with the BSA.

This is likely to be the case for one community, in particular, more than the others. The Willowra community does not yet have a church building, so for the time being they have a Bible – but no church in which to put it! (WR 366/31 - 1/2.02) [PHOTOS]